Q&A with Jocelyn Allen

 

Welcome to the Guernsey Photography Festival Blog!  We’re already looking ahead to the 2012 Festival, which will take place from Thursday 24th May until Friday 22nd June.  My name is Caroline and I’m looking forward to bringing you lots of interesting features on all things photographic over the coming months and, of course, during the Festival itself.  Your comments and suggestions would be much appreciated, whether you’re a photographer, keen amateur or simply an admirer of great photography.

What better person to kick off the 2012 blog than Jocelyn Allen, worthy winner of the Guernsey Photography Festival ‘Identity’ competition?  Jocelyn was commissioned to do One is Not Like the Other as part of her prize and it was fascinating:  she photographed her closest relatives then presented them alongside portraits of herself wearing their clothes and imitating their poses.  It really made me reflect on what makes us individual, and Jocelyn’s presence gives her work a continuity and personality which I find very engaging.  I also love the quirky titles of her projects!  It was great to catch up with Jocelyn and find out more about this emerging talent and her latest work.

How did you get interested in photography from such a young age?
My parents gave me a 35mm camera very early on.  I recently found a photobook that I made when I was 7; it was mostly pictures of my family, some landscapes on holiday and then pictures of my cuddly toys and bedroom.

When did you decide to follow a career in photography and were your family supportive of you trying to break into something so competitive?
I used to be very academic at school, but I suddenly got very bored and couldn’t decide on 4 A-Levels, so I decided to do a BTEC in Photography instead.  I was scared to tell my parents, but they were fine with it.  We all know it’s competitive, but I think every career is these days.  I wouldn’t really say I have a career in it yet, but I’d rather be trying to pursue it than looking back in regret in thirty years and saying ‘I wish I’d tried’.

What difference did winning the Guernsey Photography Festival make to you?
I found out that I had won two weeks before finishing my degree.  I was starting to get worried about graduating, but winning the competition was a big affirmation that I was doing the right thing and helped a lot with my confidence.  My graduate project, Reality of Youth Going Backwards in Vain, had been very personal and I found it hard at times during the making of it, so it felt great that people liked it that much.  Career-wise, One is Not Like the Other has definitely helped me get my name around the internet, resulting in website visits from 100 countries and all states of America.

Can you tell me about your visit to Guernsey during the Festival?
Yes, I was there for quite a few days:  I saw all of the exhibits, which were great, and I got to hang out with the other photographers and people involved with the Festival.  There was a really good atmosphere and the people who run the Festival make a great team and they are most hospitable.

Guernsey is an ideal place for a Photography Festival because it’s really beautiful and it’s like going abroad, but it’s close to home, quick to get there, better weather and you don’t need to change your money.  There are loads of great venues to show work, but they also think outside of the box so there are other lovely places where you can see work – like Samuel Fosso in the Sunken Gardens.

What are your latest projects?
I’m working on various things at the moment.  One is a project made up of many smaller elements about what aliens would document if they landed on Earth.  I’ve recently finished the opening sequence Double You Tee Eff, which is on my website and I’m working on stage two at the moment which is after they have just ‘landed’.

I’m also working on a self-portrait project that will last for 49 weeks.  At the moment I am on week 22 and it involves taking one picture a day of myself and overlaying the images.  From those I am trying to create a ‘truer’ representation of myself.  Every week I overlay the 7 images, then every 7 weeks I overlay those images.  The project is entitled The Many Faces of JFA.  I’m also currently experimenting a photograph/video, but it’s in the very early stages at the moment and I’m thinking I need to wait till I can afford a better video device.

I’m hoping to feature Kiana Hayeri, the 2011 competition winner, soon – have you seen any of her work and is there a message you’d like to pass on to her?
Yes I checked out her website when I heard she had won – I’m looking forward to seeing what she does for the Festival.  I’d just say to her ‘enjoy the opportunity, have fun with it and take some great pictures!’

To see more of Jocelyn’s work, go to www.jocelynallen.co.uk